Collagen
Created | Updated Feb 18, 2007
Collagen
Collagen is found in the skin, cartilage, bones, teeth, tendons, and the walls of the blood vessels. It is fibrous. It is a structural protein. It is very important in most animals’ not just humans. its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It is present in the cornea and lens of the eye.
Collagen is made up of three polypeptide strands (each helical) this is not an alpha helix as it is not tightly wound. These three polypeptides then wrap around each other to form a rope-like structure, these three strands are held together by hydrogen bonds, almost every third amino acid is glycine in these molecules this is useful because its small size allows the three strands to lie close together and form a tight coil.
A complete molecule interacts with other molecules of collagen which are parallel to it, the bonds form between the R groups of lysine in the collagen in other molecules abreast it these are formed between many adjacent collagen molecules and form fibres. Collagen is extremely strong and can withstand large forces this is due to the fact that the ends of the collagen molecules are staggered and therefore there are no weak points in the molecule. An example of collagens strength is the Achilles tendon which almost completely collagen and can stand a pulling force of 300N per mm squared.
Collagen is found in the skin, cartilage, bones, teeth, tendons, and the walls of the blood vessels. It is fibrous. It is a structural protein. It is very important in most animals’ not just humans. its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It is present in the cornea and lens of the eye.
Collagen is made up of three polypeptide strands (each helical) this is not an alpha helix as it is not tightly wound. These three polypeptides then wrap around each other to form a rope-like structure, these three strands are held together by hydrogen bonds, almost every third amino acid is glycine in these molecules this is useful because its small size allows the three strands to lie close together and form a tight coil.
A complete molecule interacts with other molecules of collagen which are parallel to it, the bonds form between the R groups of lysine in the collagen in other molecules abreast it these are formed between many adjacent collagen molecules and form fibres. Collagen is extremely strong and can withstand large forces this is due to the fact that the ends of the collagen molecules are staggered and therefore there are no weak points in the molecule. An example of collagens strength is the Achilles tendon which almost completely collagen and can stand a pulling force of 300N per mm squared.
